Need Assistance?

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns contact the IRT Service Desk at 916.278.7337, AIRC 2005.

Sac State Network made More Secure!

Now there's a new way to access the Sac State wireless network: SafeConnect. SafeConnect is a product that will help ensure the safety and security of the Sac State Network and your computer.

What to Expect:

When you go to access the SacLink Secure wireless network, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks you to enter your SacLink and Password.

Once you’re logged in, you’ll be asked to download a small software program called SafeConnect, which will check your system to ensure it meets Sac State’s current security requirements. Follow the onscreen instructions to install SafeConnect.

What you can do now:

To speed up your wireless registration, you can install the PolicyKey ahead of time. (If you are using a Sac State-owned laptop and don't have administrative rights, you may need to ask the IRT Service Desk for assistance)

How can you prepare for SafeConnect?

First, you will need to make sure your computer is set up to look for any available updates to your Operating System. You will also need to make sure you have current anti-virus/spyware protection installed on your machine.

Operating System Updates:

Although SafeConnect only requires that your machine be set to detect avaialble Operating System updates in order to access the Sac State Network, making sure that you've installed those updates is recommended for maintaining you system's security.

When will the change take place?

The SafeConnect service will be implemented in Fall 2011 and will initially affect students, staff, and guests. Initially faculty members will be excluded.

What is the impact on the campus?

Beginning in the Fall, the SafeConnect implementation will allow us to verify that machines connecting via our wireless network, residence hall service, open jacks or SacVPN have update-to-date critical operating system patches as well as antivirus/spyware protection installed. SafeConnect will allow us to notify users of any steps they need to take in order to meet minimum security standards. Additionally, we will be able to restrict network access for vulnerable machines and those used for RIAA copywrite infringing activity in order to secure our campus resources and protect Sac State from copywrite infringement liability.

What are the benefits to Sac State?

SafeConnect will allow our campus to address the risk posed by the growing use of personally owned devices on our campus network. Additionally, this feature will keep Sac State's user community better informed about the status of their devices and encourage keeping those devices updated and secure.

Campus resources will be better protected by our SafeConnect use because we will be able to ensure that devices connecting to our network meet minimum security standards and restrict access for machines that pose unacceptable risk. SafeConnect will also allow Sac State to limit its potential liability for any RIAA copyright infringement law violations by campus users.

How will I be affected?

This will only affect users connecting personal computers/devices to our wireless network, the Residence Hall network, open jacks or SacVPN. Please note that Faculty connecting personal devices will, at least initially, be excluded from the requirements enforced by SafeConnect. Furthermore, any university owned machines will automatically be kept up to date with the latest security patches and malware protections using the "systems management appliance" called "Kbox" so they should always be in compliance with the Network Access Control's security requirements.

When you attempt to log on to the campus network with your personal device, you will be prompted to install SafeConnect. The agent will then perform a "health" check on your machine to let you know if you are up to date with your operating system's critical patches and if you have approved antivirus/spyware tools installed.

If your machine receives a clean bill of health from SafeConnect, you will be allowed full network access. If you receive a message with information on performing updates, you will have a two week grace period in which to meet the outlined requirements.

If you exceed the two week grace period for updating your machine or are potentially violating RIAA copywrite infringement laws using the campus network, access restrictions may be applied. Network access can be restricted entirely or limited to only on campus resources. Please note that these additional access controlling features will not be implemented until after October 26th, 2011.

What exactly does SafeConnect do?

The SafeConnect will answer basic yes/no questions regarding basic versioning and patch level information of the machine it's on and relay that information so that the NAC can provide the appropriate response. This agent does not monitor your machine/activity beyond retrieving basic yes/no information for these system "health checks". Additionally, SafeConnect is entirely passive when you are off the campus network and will not continue monitoring or communicating information about your machine.

Is SafeConnect available for all operating systems?

SafeConnect is available for the most commonly used operating systems including:

Windows 7

Windows Vista

Windows XP

Windows 2000

Mac OSX

If your personal machine is running any of the operating systems above, you will be required to install SafeConnect in order to access our campus network.